Saturday, January 07, 2012
Update time
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I thought I'd drop in with a quick race update, my new bike and a cool pair of shoes!
First the race...today I ran the Oregon Road Runners Club 20.12K for the 14th straight year. And this was the first year that I didn't podium or win my age group or Masters category. A little bummed about it but too much because the last 3-months have been all about enjoying a real off-season and letting my body recover from a big racing year in 2011. I just begun training for my next marathon so today's race was about just running how I felt and having fun seeing all my buddies and I did those things. But now it is time to get going on the 2012 racing season and training.
Stats:
20.12K = 12.56-miles in 1:32:08 @ 7:20/m pace.
#6 M45-49
I was recently contacted by Ecco asking if I'd be interested in trying out some new running shoes they just brought to market. Of course, I would I told them. The shoes just arrived and without even putting them on I was impressed. The "box" is actually a hard-sided canvas box with a zipper and carrying strap. Very cool. See the pic:
The shoes themselves are incredibly light and very colorful. I've worn them around the house just a little to see how they feel and they are very comfortable. They are built to help your foot land and push off in a very natural motion and they actually come with a wearing schedule so you can train your body to adapt to them. Pretty cool. I'm going to follow the training schedule and use them for some of marathon training runs and see how they perform. I'll let you know what I think. Here is what they look like:
Lastly...after 15+ years on my trusty aluminum Specialized Allez road bike I finally pulled the trigger on a new road bike. Here it is:
It's a 2011 Cervelo S2 full-carbon, full Ultegra and full on gorgeous! I've only gotten out on it once so far (going out again tomorrow!) and it rides like a dream. The cables are internally-routed, I geared it with a compact 50/34 in the front and a 12/25 cassette in the back and on the one big hill I've climbed so far it is a climbing machine. I love it and cannot wait to put some serious miles on it training for Ironman Canada this year. At least until I break out the tri-bike. but until then I will enjoy my long overdue new ride!
Enough for now! I'll swing by again soon with an update on how the shoes, and the bike, are performing...and I'll let you know how the marathon goes on April 15th.
Thanks for stopping by...
